Telescopic structure



April 13, 1954 J. s. CORNELL TELESCOPIC STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 19. 1951 INVENTOR Jomesr. Corne Patented Apr. 13, 1954 TELESCOPIC STRUCTURE James S. Cornell, Louisville, Ky., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application January 19, 1951, Serial No. 206,901

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) 1 Claim.

The invention described herein, if patented. may be manufactured and used by or for the -Government for governmental purposes, Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to telescopic structures and more particularly to telescopic pole or rod structures, together with novel means for locking the sections of the pole or rod in either or both of the extended and collapsed positions.

Structures of the nature of that contemplated by the invention are well known and have many uses. All of such structures rprovide some means for locking the sections in either or both of the extended or collapsed positions.

However, known locking or latching means are usually subject to many objections and frequently are incapable of operating under all weather or temperature conditions Without excessive breakage. Many are incapable of being actuated by gloved personnel which is an important consideration in cold climates. Most such means are permanently connected to the parts and cannot be replaced except by skilled personnel using special tools,

While the particular structure disclosed hereinafter is intended for use as aA tent pole, it is obviously capable of other uses within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. The particular structure of the invention is intended to be formed of light weight tubular material whereby to provide the maximum strength with aminimum of weight and to provide improved means for retaining the sections in either or both of the extended and collapsed positions.

With the foregoing in view it is an object of my invention to provide an improved telescopic structure of the class described.

A further object is to provide in such a structure, improved means for locking the sections in either or both of the extended and collapsed positions.

A further object is to provide in such a structure, improved spring latch means for locking the sections in either or both of the extended or collapsed positions, such means being of simple structure and being capable of ready replacement by unskilled personnel upon breakage without the use of special tools.

A further object is to provide at least a pair of tubular sections slidably and rotatably connected together for telescoping movement, a pair of oppositely disposed holes in one section adjacent one end thereof, pairs of recesses in the other section adjacent both ends thereof, and a novel spring latch carried by the first-namedmsection 2 and projectable through said holes and into said recesses with said sections in an extended position and/or in a collapsed position whereby to lock said sections in such positions.

A further object is to provide in combination with a pair of tubular sections slidably connected together for telescoping movement, an improved locking or adjusting pin insertable through transversely aligned holes in one section when saidl sections are extended so as to engage the adja-A cent end edge of the other section and limit collapsing movement oi' said sections` Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements thereof, combinations and sub-combinations of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevation on a reduced scale of the invention, the parts being .shown in an extended position; i

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of Figure 1 but on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a View like Figure 2 but showing the sections in the collapsed position;

Figure 4 is aV horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a latch element apart from the rest of the structure;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a locking or adjusting pin apart from the rest of' the structure; and

Figure 7 is a transverse, vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of the line 1 1 of Figure 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, I2 designates generally an outer section which telescopically receives a middle section I3 and an inner section i4. As is readily apparent from Figures 2 and 3, the inner section I4 is telescopically received in the middle section I3. All of the sections are slidably and rotatably connected together for telescopic movement to and from the extended position of Figures 1 and 2 to the collapsed position of Figure 3. It should be noted that the outer section is located centrallyof the pole when the same is extended which is the point of the greatest buckling strains whereby maximum strength in the device is assured. Of course, the outer section I2 comprises a case for the sections I3 and lli when the pcie is collapsed.

The outer sectionv I2 comprises a body portion I5 the lower end of which is reduced to provide a neck I6 which has a sliding lit on the body portion of the middle section I3. The upper end of the outer section i2 likewise is reduced to provide an elongated tubular end sleeve l1 whichis sized for a sliding and rotating fit on thebody portion of the inner section l. A pair of transversely aligned round holes IB are formed through the body portion i5 of the outer section l2 adjacent the lower end thereof. Such holes i8 permit the `passage therethrough of a locking or adjusting pin lil.

'Ihe locking or adjusting pin I9 is best seen in Figures 6 and '1 and is oi half-round construction so as to provide an arcuate under surface to permit rotation of the pin in the holes I3 and a flat upper surface 2l for fiat engagement with the free edge of the neck it when the pin is used as an adjusting pin, Figure 2. The front end 22 of the pin I9 is of reduced diameter to facilitate insertion and Withdrawal and is also angularlyY upwardly and forwardly directed to provide a cam surface 23 which resists but does not prevent withdrawal of the pin, whereby to prevent accidental dislodgement of the pin when in use. The rear end of the pin I9 is provided with any suitable means such as the ring 2d for connecting the pin to any suitable flexible tether 25. The other end of the tether 25 is preferably secured by any suitable means Z6 to the body portion I5 of the outer section I2.

The end sleeve I1 of the outer section I2 is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed holes 21 for use with a latch member generally indicated at 28 and best seen in Figures 4 and 5. The latch member 28 comprises a spring clip having an arcuate body 29 and free ends which areV inwardly curled as at 30 to provide latch dogs. The latch dogs 30 are constructed and arranged to be projected through the holes 21 in the sleeve I1 by the body portion 29 which partially encircles such sleeve. As clearly shown in Figure 4, a central part of the body portion 29 bears on the outer periphery of the sleeve I1 whereby the inwardly curled ends 3B lare so located as to seat automatically in the holes 21 merely by relatively sliding and/or rotating the sleeve and clip with such central part of the body portion of the clip in contact with the sleeve until the ends 3l) and holes 21 are registered. If desired, said central part of the body 29 of the latch may be fixedly secured to the sleeve I1. However, this is unnecessary and it is preferred that the latch 28 be connected to the sleeve I1 solely by the resilient grip of the dogs 3D in the holes 2l'. With this arrangement, a broken spring clip or latch 28 may be removed and replaced much more rapidly and economically than if it were secured in position by a rivet or other means. The'edges of the latch dogs E!) are beveled as at 3i to facilitate seating of the dogs in recesses llI and 112 to be described later.

The middle section I3 includes a body portion 32 the lower end of which is preferably closed in any suitable manner as by the cap 33 which Vmay be permanently secured in position by any suitablemeans such as the rivets 36. The body portion 32 is` also formed with a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed holes 35 which correspond in size to the holes I 8 in the outer section I2. The pairs of holes 35 are vertically spaced to permit the pin I9 to be used as an adjusting pin whereby to vary the length of the pole in a well known manner. The upper end of the middle section I3 is outwardly belled as at 35 not only to prevent withdrawal of the middle section through the lower end of the outer section but also to provide a sliding t with the inner surface of the body portion I5 of such outer section.

The inner section Irl comprises a body portion 31 which has a sliding and rotating t in the end sleeve I1 of the outer section I2. The lower end of the body portion 31 is outwardly belled as at 33 not only to prevent withdrawal of the inner section through the sleeve I1 but also to provide the lower fend of the inner section I4 with a slidingrand rotating t in the body portion 32 of the middle section I3. The upper end of the inner section Is is preferably closed by any suitable means such as the'plug 39. which may be crimped in place as shown or otherwise suitably secured. The usual tent engaging spindle @Il may be formed on or xed to the plug 39. The plug 33 is formed with a radially outwardly directed flange 50 which overlies and bears against the free end edge of the end sleeve I1 when the parts are in the collapsed position, Figure 3.

The body portion 31 of the inner section I4 has a pair of latch dog recesses II formed therein adjacent the upper end thereof. Such recesses may be in the form of notches extending only partly through the stockV of the section I4 as shown, or they may be in the form of slots extending entirely through such walls. In either event, at least the end walls of the recesses are arcuate in a plane diametral of the sections or similarly beveled so as to cam the latch dogs 30 out of the recesses upon relative rotation of the sections I2 and Ifo. A pair of similar recesses 42 is formed in the body portion 31 of the inner section I il adjacent the lower end thereof.

In operation and as best seen in Figure 2,V the lower recesses i2 are on a plane to register with the holes 21 of sleeve I1 when the inner sectionl 'of the sections will cause recesses d2 to register with holes 21 whereby the latch dogs 32 will spring into the recesses to lock the sections I2 and I4 in the extended position. Conversely, to unlock the sections, it is only necessary to impart a slight relative rotation thereto, whereby the arcu- In like manner, when the lower belled end 38V of the inner section Id contacts the floor of the end cap 33, the upper recesses 4I are on a registering plane with the holes 2 so that but a slight relative rotation of the sections is necessary to cause registration of the recesses il with the holes 21 so as to permit the latch dogs et to engage and lock the sections in the collapsed position. Unlocking is accomplished by a further partial relative rotation of the sections in the manner previously described.

Y As best seen in Figurev 3, the inner section-- IfI has a pair of transversely aligned holes 4d' formed therethrough which correspond to the pair oiuholes I3 in the vouter section` I2 and cned of the pairs of holes 35 of the middle section I3. Thus, in the collapsed. position, all three pairs of holes are registrable by appropriate relative rotation of the sections whereby the pin I9 may be inserted through all of the sections to lock them in the collapsed position. This arrangement does not render the upper recesses 4! unnecessary, as at times it may be desirable to loci: the sections i2 and I4 together in the collapsed position while extending the sections I2 and i3 to an extended position. At the same time, the holes 44 supplement the recesses 4| and guard against accidental extension of the inner section should the latch 28 be accidentally displaced.

It is apparent that the operation or the devices may be carried out by unskilled personnel Wearing gloves and Without the use of tools. Likewise, the structure collapses to a compact package wherein the outer section provides a case for the rest of the structure.

Moreover, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

In a telescopic pole including a pair of tubular sections slidably and rotatably fitted together for telescopic movement to and from extended and collapsed positions, and wherein one end of one section is formed with a pair of holes and the opposite end of the other section is formed with a pair of recesses, the holes of one section being registi-able with the recesses of the other section with said sections in said extended position; the improvement comprising an arcuate spring clip carried by said section having said holes therein, said clip having free ends curled inwardly upon said clip to provide arcuate latch dogs extending through said holes to connect said clip to said last-named section, said clip having an arcuate body portion including a central part bearing on the outer periphery of said first named section and locating said latch dogs for automatic seating in said holes upon registration therewith, and said dogs being resiliently seatable simultaneously in both of said recesses of the other section to lock said sections in said extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,548 Smith May 10, 1887 476,363 Burt June 7, 1892 545,438 Allen Sept. 3, 1895 713,794 Ostermann Nov. 18, 1902 849,952 Willis Apr. 9, 1907 930,406 McDonald Aug. 10, 1909 1,047,532 Johnson Dec. 17, 1912 1,151,916 Wood Aug. 31, 1915 1,289,867 Moore Dec. 31, 1918 1,311,918 Seagers Aug. 5, 1919 1,801,014 Lange Apr. 14, 1931 1,820,950 Schulstadt Sept. 1, 1931 2,238,463 Dubilier Apr. 15, 1941 2,354,806 Fletcher Aug. 1, 1944 2,376,716 Odin May 22, 1945 2,522,394 Myers Sept. 12, 1950 

